Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-07
THE NATIONAL DRILL.
The Coming Gathering Of Volunteer
Soldiers i'm Camp Washington.

| PREPARATIONS FOR THE GREAT KNcAxrMKNT-Hov
| THE DRILL WAS PRoJEcTED-THK COMMITTEES II
| cHARGE-rHR PRIZES AND THE RuLEs-PRovIsIoN
| MADE FOB PUBLIC COMFORT.
| The busiest man in the city just now Is Mr. T. C.
| De Leon, the managing secretary of the Nationa
Drill He sits all day at his desk In the rear ofic,
at National Drill headquarters, corner Of Pennsyl
| vania avenue and 18th street. A sign posted vi
| On the glass partition announces that "Mr d.
| Leon Is engaged" As Mr.. De Leon Is always
busily engaged, the sign is never taken down. The
| front Office has assumed quite a military air
| Samples OF camp cots, pictures Of camp scenes
| Autographs representing a tented field, with
! marching troops and the Washington monument
looming up above all, and other little shadows OF
the coming great event lie around Clerks are al
| work at tables, and In one corner the com.
| mtttee of comfort has 1t headquarters. Here
| register Is kept OF rooms and beds available and
intending TO visit the city during the week of the
| National Drill In the White Lot too prepare.
tons are going on for the drill and the huge
camp-ground is being enclosed. It Is expected
that there will be in the neighborhood OF six OF
| seven thousand troops in the camp-Camp George
washington; AZ the foot OF the Washington
Monument the troops OF the North and the South
will meet In fraternal and patriotic spirit to vie
| for the honors and prizes provided by the enter:
prise and nberality OF the citizens who projected
| the drill The project OF holding National Drill
here In Nay when first preached last fall was
taken up at once ,ss by a number Of energetic and
enterpriSing citizens, who, by their personal in
nuence and labOrs, as well as their liberal sub
scripttons In money, at once assured the success
OF the Undertaking. Committees were organized.
and steps taken to assemble in scamp George
Washington" the flower of the American National
Guard
THE OBJECT OF THE DRILL.
The purposes and objects Of the drill were set
forth by the executive committee In memorial to
Congress. "Within the past decade, /" they said,
interstate competitive drills of the volunteer SOL
dierS OF the United States have been held at diff
ferent points OF this country always with steadily
increasing advantage to the drill, discipline and
morale Of the militia and with steadily increas-
Ing attention and interest OF the general citizen
ship OF the several States The idea has frequently
been canvaSsed, and the feeling over the Union
has grown that national competitive DIM and
encampment at the National Capital would not
diers Of the several States, but would be OF more
military Importance and advantage from the ma
tiOnal character the event would necessarily at
tain amid national surroundings Impressed with
the propriety and advantage OF these views,
some ninety citizens have raised money to the
amount am Of to secure payment OF all prizes
besides stands OF colors, flags, trophies medals of
merit, &c, Och and all other expenses OF the drill
and have completed all preliminary arrange
mentS.'
In this memorial Congress was reminded "that
the volunteer commands, comprising the National
representative men Of each State and Territory
whence they come; that the professions, trades,
capital, labor, and all business interests therein
are directly connected with, and In the main COM
prise, them; that they thus aggregate the reliance
and reserve power OF the entire Union in its mill
tary arm, and thus enforce practically our repub-
lican theory Of large and well-appointed militia
force In lieu OF an expensive standing army" In
circular issued by the committee the two-fold
object Of the National Drill was set forth as fol-
lows: First. AS an incentive to advancement and
proficiency IN the science OF arms OF the citizen
sold1ery Of the Union, through emulation and
national capital. second. The maSSing Of repre-
sentative men, comprised in the volunteer organi-
cations, In the fraternal associations OF a camp.
where they may better appreciate each other and
learn mutual reliance should the national reserves
be called to stand shoulder to shoulder in de-
tense OF their common country.
THE COMMITTEES II
In charge were organized as follows:
Executive.-Commissioner 8. E. Wheatly, chair
man; General Albert Ordway, Captain James E.
Waugh, Marshal A. Wilson, Major James p VIII
lett, Messrs. William A. Gordon, Thomas E. Wag-
Finance. - Thomas E. Waggaman, chairman;
Messrs James L. Norris, Charles s. Bradley, NJ. NJ.
Parker, j. w. Boteler and c. w. Thorn
Transportation - George Pearson, chairman;
Messrs 81. II. Carter, James L Taylor, James H.
Mari, John F. Waggaman and A. n. Lothrop.
Advertising. Sc.-E W. Fox, chairman; Messrs.
Robert A. Parke, General Gibson, o. G. Staples,
John KeywOrth and Charles T. Murray.
Rules, Judges, Prizes, &c.-General Albert Ord
Thomas ]. Luttreli, Dr.. Smith foxnshend. Major aG
81. L. Crawford and MI. Jen Chandler.
Grounds, Construction. 6C.-MarShal A. A. VIII
son, chairman; Major James P. Willett, Messrs.
Viii Wheatley, P. H. Christman, c. c. DancansOn
and OceOla Green.
Advisory Members to Committee on Transporta-
tOnS.-E. p. Wilson, General Passenger Agent Chi
cage and Northwestern Railroad; H.COlbran, Gen.
eral Passenger and Freight Agent Queen and Ores
cent Kalrpaa; W. Mrenn General Passenger
Air line; c. r. Lord. General Passenger Agent Bal
umOre and Ohio Railroad and H. ". Fuller, Gen.
eral Passenger Agent Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
road.
Mr.. I. c. De Leon was chosen as managing Sec
rotary, and at a recent meeting Gen. Christopher
C. Augur was chosen as cOmmandanL or the Camp
The drill and encampment Will open Monday,
May o, and end with Decoration bay, May go
ee which Militia mefe t Spen 70 oan
regularly organized corps OF cadets from military
Or university schools, closed on April. These en-
were 80 entries for individual drill and 50 for rifle
practice. The drills will be judged and the pro-
gram will be prepared by ofhcers Of the United
States Army, in the different arms OF service spe-
cially designated by the War Department for this
duty.
not been finally announced. There win be series
OF special days, such as "Regimental Day." "Gov-
ernors' Day." battalion Day." presidents Day"
on Memorial Day On Governors Day the troops
will be reviewed by the governors OF the States a
number Of whom win attend with their stans On
the Presidents Day there will be review by the
President. During the encampment there will be
promenade concerts by famous military bands
THE PRIZES.
The prizes are the largest ever offered. The cash
prizes aggregate s28,5Oo. Besides these prizes
souvenir trophies will be>awarded
The prizes offered are as follows:
!. Regimental: For the best regiment OF fnfan.
try, a magnificent stand OF cOlOrs Omitted States
flag, regimental flag and guidons), with gold
silver and bronze medals to the officers
2. Battalion: For the best battalion OF infantry
OF not less than four companies flrst prize So OO0
second prize df more than two compete), $500;
total, s., 500.
3. Company: For the best company Of infantry.
first prize 5000; second prize, s., 800; third prize
81 500; fourth prize, 81. 600; NTH prize $500 total
4. Cavalry: For the best company OF cavalry.
first prize, 81 900; second prize df more than two
compete), s., 500; total, s., 500
5. Light Artillery: For the best platoon first
prize, s, 500; second prize III more than two com
pete, 81 600; total, s, 500.
8. Machine Guns: For the best platoon, FIRST
prize, silver trophy and $3.50; second prize $500,
4 zouaves: For the best zouave drill, first prize.
q GOO; second prize df more than two compete),
$50; total, 8, $50.
g. Cadet Corps: For the best infantry company.
from any regularly established military school OF
prize 81 900; second prize II more than two com
pete) $50; total, s., $50.
g. Individual Prizes: For the best drilled soldier
Ia the manual OF arms, competition restricted to
not more than two members OF any competing
company, first prlze, gold medal and 800; second
medal and $50; total, $225.
10. k1ne Practice: Competition open to any
regularly enlisted man or Commissioned of1icer OF
the volunteer militia, not, however, to exceed two
from any one company. Ten shots each at 200
800, 500 and 600 yards. Eight prizes first prize
al and fhro<a Il